This game was certainly not the once-sided affair that the scoreline suggests and Clonmore were well in it until the 40th minute when the score read 2-5 to 0-8.
The Blues started off on fire and went three points up within 8 minutes but Clonmore had a great early goal chance when David Mulvany found himself one-to-one with the goalkeeper but the keeper made a great save. Clonmore did get back into it with points by Con Murphy, Gavin Byrne and Pauric Lawlor to make it 0-4 to 0-3 on 15 minutes. The fast Blues forwards cut through the Clonmore backline for a goal but we rallied again and points by Niall Humphries and Paddy Gahan left us well in contention at half-time on a scoreline of 1-5 to 0-5 Unfortunately, the Blues got the start to the second half that we needed when they goaled again in the first minute. Clonmore then took over and totally dominated the game for the next ten minutes. While points from Con (2) and Crock got us back within a goal at 2-5 to 0-8 on 40mins, it was poor return for all the possession we enjoyed.
Two more goal chances went begging when first Niall Humphries was at the end of a flowing move but chose to catch the ball rather than palm it to the net and that gave the goalkeeper time to close him down. Then a rocket of a shot from Shane McGrath cracked the crossbar with the goalkeeper beaten. If either of these goal chances had gone in it would have brought us level. Inevitably, after weathering the storm, the Blues broke upfield for another 1-1 to put them 3-6 to 0-8 ahead on 45 minutes which was very demoralising for the lads in red & green.
Nevertheless, they never stopped trying and Crock Mulvany sent a rasper of a shot heading for the top left hand corner of the net only for the goalkeeper to make a brilliant flying save and Con Murphy had another effort go just wide to complete the list of Clonmore's five missed goal chances.
The Blues showed clinical finishing in front of goal and their towering full forward Daryl Hayden was a constant thorn in our side providing a perfect target man for the small, fast forwards to feed off. As Clonmore threw caution to the wind in the last ten minutes, the Blues added two more goals to complete a sad night for a team that tried hard but had no luck.The result could have been so different and if the two teams meet again, we can expect a much closer affair.Clonmore have three weeks to prepare for the last vital game against Ballon where a win will secure a play-off place.
Team: Collie McGrath, Bobby Rooney, Anthony Byrne, Paul Hogan, Shane Murphy, Ronan Doyle, David McCarney (0-1), David Mulvany (0-1), Alan Humphries, Paddy Gahan (0-1), Pauric Lawlor (0-1), Gavin Byrne (0-2), Con Murphy (0-3, 1"45"), Niall Humphries, Enda McGrath. Subs: Kevin McCarney for Alan, Shane McGrath for Kevin (inj, HT), John Kelly for Paul Hogan (48), Andrew Byrne for Bobby (57)
PHOTO: In spite of the best efforts of Ronan Doyle, the Blues towering full forward Daryl Hayden was a constant thorn in our side providing a perfect target man for the small, fast forwards to feed off.
